MA Rural Development: Admission 2025, Eligibility, Entrance Exam, Salary, Career Scope

MA Rural Development is a two-year postgraduate program that helps students gain knowledge about improving rural economies and communities. The PG program in Rural Development covers topics like rural development policies, theories of development, social entrepreneurship, social development strategies, etc. Candidates interested in making a difference in rural communities must pursue an MA in Rural Development. 

Candidates with a minimum of 45-50% marks can apply for the two-year Masters in Rural Development program. Admission to the course is based on merit or entrance exams like CUET PG, Odisha CET etc. Ranchi University, Banaras Hindu University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Ravenshaw University are some of the top colleges offering an MA in Rural Development.  

MA Rural Development graduates can explore diverse career options in government organizations, NGOs, and research institutions. Some of the job roles that an MA Rural Development professional can pursue include Development Manager, Public Policy Consultant, Rural Development Officer, etc. The average package of MA Rural Development freshers ranges between INR 2.7 LPA and INR 4.6 LPA. 

MA Rural Development Course Highlights

The table below shows the Masters in Rural Development course highlights:

What is MA Rural Development?

MA Rural Development is a 2 years professional degree that helps students understand the socio-economic and policy aspects of rural development. The MA Rural Development curriculum focuses on subjects such as Rural Economics, Sustainable Development, Public Policy, Agricultural Development, Community Engagement, and much more. Aspirants pursuing an MA in Rural Development get exposure to real-world rural development challenges and problems through fieldwork, case studies and practical training.

Masters in Rural Development professionals are in high demand due to the rise of sustainable agriculture and rural entrepreneurship. The MA Rural Development graduates have adequate theoretical and practical knowledge of rural development that helps them work on rural policy formulation and rural finance. 

Why Study MA Rural Development?

As rural development is important for sustainable growth, an MA in Rural Development opens diverse career options for the candidates. The MA Rural Development professionals can explore careers in rural enterprises, research institutions, government agencies, etc. A few reasons to pursue an MA in Rural Development are listed below:

• The MA Rural Development professionals have the opportunity to work in international organisations like UNICEF, FAO, IFAD, UNDP, etc.
• MA Rural Development helps the candidates enhance their project management, policy analysis, and social impact assessment skills which enables them to make strategic business decisions in rural development planning.

MA Rural Development Admission Process

Master of Arts in Rural Development admission is merit/ entrance exam-based. Candidates must have a valid score in exams like CUET PG to apply for the MA Rural Development program. The MA Rural Development admission is mostly the same for all institutions; however, the admission process of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI) is mentioned below:

For Non-CUET candidates

• Visit the official website
• Register yourself on the Online Admission Portal
• Fill out the application form and upload the necessary documents
• Pay the application fee of INR 500
• Appear for the RKMVERI Admission Test

For CUET-qualified candidates

• Visit the official website
• Register yourself on the Online Admission Portal
• Fill out the application form and upload the necessary documents
• Candidates must upload the CUET PG scorecard
• Pay the application fee of INR 300

MA Rural Development Eligibility

MA Rural Development eligibility criteria can vary for different institutions. Aspirants with a graduate degree are eligible for the PG program in Rural Development. The eligibility criteria for MA Rural Development at Ranchi University are mentioned below:

• Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in any steam that is recognised by the Academic Council of Ranchi University
• A minimum of 45% marks in aggregate

MA Rural Development Entrance Exam

MA Rural Development admission is based on entrance exams. Some of the entrance exams that are accepted for the Master of Arts in Rural Development are listed below:

MA Rural Development Syllabus

The MA Rural Development curriculum focuses on subjects like Introduction to Livelihoods, Environment, Ecology and Livelihoods, Fundamentals of Economics, Theories of Development, Social Entrepreneurship, Gender and Development Practice, etc. The syllabus for an MA in Rural Development  remains the same for most of the institutions; however, the syllabus at TISS Hyderabad is mentioned below:

Top Colleges in India for MA Rural Development 

Candidates interested in pursuing an MA in Rural Development can check out the top colleges listed below:

MA Rural Development Jobs 

A degree in MA Rural Development opens doors to various opportunities in government agencies, NGOs and social enterprises. Master of Arts in Rural Development graduates have high career prospects as the global market's demand for community development and policy implementation is growing. Some of the job roles after an MA in Rural Development are mentioned below:

MA Rural Development Future Scopes

Candidates with an MA in Rural Development have diverse job opportunities in government agencies or NGOs. An MA Rural Development graduate can work as a Rural Development Officer, Public Policy Consultant, Project Manager, Social Worker, and much more. Apart from these, the other options that are available for an MA in Rural Development graduate are mentioned below:

• Entrepreneurship: MA Rural Development professionals can begin their entrepreneurial journey by establishing social enterprises or rural startups that focus on sustainable agriculture, rural tourism, and community-based development initiatives.
• Short-term Courses: The rural sector is evolving rapidly and short-term certification courses will help the professional to enhance their skills. The Master of Arts in Rural Development graduates can pursue online courses in Disaster Management & Climate Resilience, Rural Marketing & Social Entrepreneurship, GIS & Remote Sensing for Rural Planning and many more.
• Higher Education: Candidates can opt for a higher education like PhD in Rural Development or MBA in Rural Development.

MA Rural Development FAQ